Chairman's Message

Professor T. S. Chan

Chairman of JQRC

In recent years, we have witnessed the rapid development of the post-secondary education sector and at the same time, widespread concern about the quality of education. The quality assurance of education for sub-degree programmes has become a top agenda.  I am honoured to be elected as the Chairman of the Board of Joint Quality Review Committee (JQRC) and tasked to implement this new quality assurance initiative, together with my Directors of the Board, in the self-accrediting sector of post-secondary education in Hong Kong,. 

The establishment of the JQRC aims to provide an independent and external process to further safeguard the quality of self-financed sub-degree programmes offered by our self-accrediting member institutions.  These publicly-funded institutions are the largest provider of both degree and sub-degree level programmes in Hong Kong.  In support of the concept of life-long learning and the Government policy of increasing the participation rate in post-secondary education, the institutions have expanded their respective Continuing Education Units and Community Colleges to offer an increasing number and a greater variety of self-financed sub-degree programmes.  These programmes are largely welcomed by the community and have successfully produced well qualified graduates who have added value to the workforce of Hong Kong.  The quality of these programmes is underpinned by the institutions’ well-established internal quality assurance mechanisms.

In line with international developments, the establishment of JQRC is an initiative to add a further element of externality into the quality assurance processes of our member institutions. Having regard to the need for accountability and credibility, JQRC will monitor and assure, through a system of peer review, the quality of the self-financed sub-degree programmes of our member institutions within the context of their self-accrediting status.  We hope that through JQRC’s review activities, our member institutions (and their relevant colleges and units) will be able to further consolidate their quality assurance mechanisms and practices, and demonstrate to the public the quality of their educational provision as well as their concern for quality and continuous improvement. This website provides readers with information on the work and activities of the JQRC.  Suggestions and comments on the website as well as on the work of JQRC are most welcome.

The pursuit of quality education and continuous improvement is a journey, not a destination. The work for JRQC will not be easy, and the future holds many challenges. However, I do believe that JQRC has the resolve and the support to succeed.  I look forward to working closely in partnership with all my fellow Board members, members of our Academic Council, other stakeholders in the community, and my professional staff in the JQRC Office in contributing to this important endeavour.

T. S. Chan

Chairman

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